The Elsies River Community Police Forum (ERCPF) has launched a heartwarming initiative to bring comfort to residents waiting for health services at local community health centres.
This outreach is part of their broader “whole society approach” to crime fighting, which emphasises building relationships and trust within the community.Imraahn Mukaddam, a representative of the ERCPF, explained the motivation behind the initiative: “The outreach to the community health centres is part of our whole society approach to crime fighting. The Community in Blue are the ground troops of the community police forum, and we realised that many people arrive early in the morning to wait for health services.
We wanted to make their wait a bit more bearable with a hot cup of soup.”The Community in Blue volunteers, known for their dedication and presence in the Elsies River area, have been actively engaging with patients, offering a warm cup of soup and friendly conversation. This initiative not only provides physical comfort but also helps build trust and familiarity with the Community in Blue Patrollers, who play a crucial role in the ERCPF’s crime-fighting efforts.
CPF and Community in Blue
“We used the opportunity to interact with patients and to build trust and familiarity with our Community in Blue patrollers,” Mukaddam added.
“These interactions are essential for fostering a sense of safety and community spirit, which are vital in our efforts to combat crime.”
The ERCPF is grateful to its donors, whose support has made this outreach possible. They are encouraging more donors to partner with them so that they can continue and expand these efforts.
“We are thankful to our donors and encourage more donors to partner with the ERCPF so that, together with our Community in Blue, we can do more such outreaches throughout our precinct,” Mukaddam said.For those interested in getting involved with the ERCPF and the Community in Blue programme, Chief Hamish Arries, the chair, and Joshua Jackson, the secretary and Community in Blue coordinator, welcome inquiries.
Together, the ERCPF and its Community in Blue volunteers are making a tangible difference in Elsies River, demonstrating the power of community collaboration and care.To learn more about how you can contribute or participate, contact Chief Hamish Arries at 084 049 1103 or Joshua Jackson at 064 409 3614.
